Game Thread #52: Brewers (21-30) at Marlins (26-26)

Published June 1, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.

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Current Series

Marlins lead the series 1-0

Mon 05/31	WP: Jorge Sosa (1 - 0)... LP: Chris Narveson (4 - 3)...	5 - 13 loss
Milwaukee Brewers Brew Crew Ball @...Florida Marlins FishStripes Tuesday, Jun 1, 2010, 6:10 PM CDT Sun Life Stadium Dave Bush vs...Ricky Nolasco ...Partly cloudy,rain. Winds blowing from right to left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 85.   Tuesday's Frosty Mug posted by Kyle Lobner about 7 hours ago 56 comments...0 recs Complete Coverage >
Wed 06/02		6:10 PM CDT
Thu 06/03		6:10 PM CDT

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Follow the jump for the usual stuff.

Ricky Nolasco (4-4, 4.65) is coming off his shortest outing of the season, a 4 inning, 64 pitch performance on Thursday against the Braves, where he allowed three runs on eight hits. He doesn't walk many (three opposing batters in 28.1 innings in May), but he will give up long balls in bunches: He's allowed multiple home runs in three of his ten starts.

Nolasco's velocity is down this season (90.1 mph on his average fastball, down from 91.5 last season, and he's throwing a splitter more (11.4% of the time now - it's a pitch he didn't even have three seasons ago). His curve and slider are both above average, but his fastball and splitter are below. No Brewers have faced Nolasco ten times, but Prince Fielder is 0-for-3 with four walks, and Rickie Weeks is 4-for-5 with a walk, a triple and a home run.

Meanwhile, Dave Bush (1-5, 5.05) could really use a good start to turn things around after a bad May. He didn't allow an earned run his last time out, but allowed two runs on four hits and three walks and was only able to last five innings. He posted a 5.64 ERA in five starts in May. He's made five quality starts in ten tries, but the Brewers are just 2-8 with him on the mound.

As for stuff, you've probably heard it before: Bush's velocity is way down (85.7 mph on his average fastball, down from 87.9 last season), he's throwing his slider and curve more and his cutter less, and all five pitchers are below average. Five Marlins have faced him ten times:

Player	PA	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Jorge Cantu	19	.263	.263	.526	.789
Dan Uggla	15	.385	.467	.769	1.236
Mike Lamb	13	.077	.077	.077	.154
Hanley Ramirez	12	.333	.500	.444	.944
Ronny Paulino	11	.091	.091	.364	.455

 

Via Tyler Barnes on Twitter, here's today's lineup:

Rickie Weeks 2B
George Kottaras C
Ryan Braun LF
Prince Fielder 1B
Casey McGehee 3B
Corey Hart RF
Jim Edmonds CF
Alcides Escobar SS
Dave Bush P

And in the bullpen:

Jeff Suppan pitched 1 innings (11 pitches) yesterday, and also pitched on Sunday.
Carlos Villanueva pitched .1 innings (18 pitches) yesterday...Trevor Hoffman pitched 1 inning (15 pitches) Sunday...Zach Braddock pitched 1 inning (37 pitches) Sunday...Todd Coffey pitched 2.1 innings (29 pitches) Saturday...John Axford pitched 1 inning (14 pitches) Saturday
Kameron Loe joined the team today, and last pitched for Nashville on Thursday.

Enjoy the game!

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